Brammo Empulse, A 100-Mph Electric Bike

July 16, 2010

Want an electric motorcycle with the muscle to stand up to its powerful gas counterparts? Far from the cute and charming style long associated with battery-powered bikes, the Brammo Empulse is a beastly two-wheeler that's as burly as they come, packing some serious power to boot.

Boasting "a more efficient battery, a more efficient controller [and] a more efficient motor," the vehicle claims to reach speeds of up to 100 mph, easily besting the company's previous consumer electric bike, the 60-mph Brammo Enertia. Not only is it fast, the top model averages a generous 100 miles of driving range on a single charge too, making it a functional everyday commuter apart from being a sporty street racer.

The Brammo Empulse is powered by a liquid-cooled AC Synchronous motor (a first for production electric bikes), putting out 55bhp and 59 lb/ft of torque. It weighs a light 390 lbs, giving it one of the most attractive power-to-weight and torque-to-weight ratios, even among conventional ICE bikes.

According to Brammo, the streetfighter-inspired motorcycle is only the first bike from their company to take advantage of the new drivetrain technology. Since they've overcome the biggest challenge during the development of the ride (the electronics), deploying the same to other platforms is something fans can look forward to.

Three models of the Brammo Empulse will be available, running on 6kWh, 8kWh and 10kWh batteries, with average driving ranges of 60, 80 and 100 miles, respectively. Charging the battery to 100% takes a mere two hours too, making it as convenient as it is powerful. Pricing is surprisingly affordable at $9,995, $11,995 and $13,995 for each of the models.